Crank mechanism.



B. H. MILLER.

- CRANK MECHANISM.

APPLICATION IILED NOV. 9, 1910.

Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

Inventor.

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EDWIN H. MILLER, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIG-NOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN W. MELVILLE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

CRANK MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

Application filed November 9, 1910. Serial No. 591,434.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN H. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, county of Los Angeles, State of California, have invented new' and useful Improvements in Urank Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tape line holders such as used by surveyers and artisans in measuring distances.

The device is applicable to a device having a spindle or drum upon which the tape is wound in a roll by means of a lever or crank.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved construction for the lever which rotates the spindle and to provide an arrangement whereby the lever can be disconnected from the spindle so as to permit the free rotation of the spindle when the tape is being extended without rotating the lever.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for locking the lever or crank against rotation.

In the drawing forming a part of the annexed specification, Figure 1 is a perspective showing a tape holder provided with a. device constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2, is a longitudinal section through the lever in a plane at right angles to the axis of the spindle and illustrating means forconnecting the lever to the spindle enabling it to be disconnected when desired as suggested. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the lever, certain parts being broken away, and the handle of the lever being shown in dotted lines in the position in which it remains when the spindle is being rotated by means of the lever or crank. Fig. 4; is a cross section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3 and further illustrating the details of the construction of the crank. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the end of the spindle upon an enlarged scale.

Referring more particularly to the parts, 6 represents the frame of the device which is in the form of two forks or bars 7 disposed slightly apart and connected by a rotatable spindle 8, said spindle having a rigid collar 9 near one end thereof which seats against the outer side of one of the forks as shown in Fig. 1. Beyond this collar the spindle is formed with a projecting hub 10 and this with a plurality of circumferentially disposed sockets 11 as indicated in Fig. 2. On the spindle 8 there is rigidly attached a drum or spool 12 u on which the tape 13 wraps in the form of a roll 14:, and the end of the tape is provided with a ring 15, and the tape is guided from the frame between two parallel guide posts 16 which connect the bars 7 as shown.

I provide a lever or crank 17 having an elongated body and having a circular head 18 with a bore which receives the hub 10 as shown in Fig. 2, being retained on the said hub by means of a screw 19 which is set in a threaded screw hole 20 in the end of the hub.

The body of the crank has a longitudinal bore 21 in which longitudinally disposed sliding pin 22 is provided and the end of this pin is adapted to engage in the sockets 11 as shown, being pressed toward such engagement by means of a coiled spring 23 in the outer end of the bore 21 which thrusts against the butt end of the pin. This end of the pin is provided with a reduced tip 24 which centers the spring and holds it in place as will be readily understood.

The side of the lever or crank is formed a neck 26 which is rigldly secured to the pin 22, and this neck forms a part of a small block 27 which is mounted to slide on the side of the lever or crank as shown. This block is wedged shaped and at its inner end which is of greatest thickness it is bifurcated so as to support a button 28 on a transverse'pivot pin 29. This button 28 constitutesa catch and has a small finger 30 which is adapted to be inserted in a small opening 31 in the side of the crank so as to lock the pin in a position withdrawn from the socket. The outer part of the button presents a circumferential face 32 for rotating the button when desired.

As shown in Fig. 2 the finger 30 is disengaged from the opening 81' so as to permit a spring 23 to hold the pin in engagement with one of the sockets. The outer end of the crank presents two forks 33 between which a crank handle 34 is pivotally attached and this handle 3 1 has an angular square head 35 at its point of attachment to the fork. On the inner face of the crank a leaf spring 86 is attached which presses the side face of this head 35 and tends to hold it in an extended position as shown in Figs.

with a slot 25 and through this slot extends 1 and 3 when the crank is not being rotated. When the crank is to be rotated the crank handle is moved around to a 90 degree position as indicated in the dotted lines in Fig. 8. In this position the spring 36 presses against the flat end of the head 35 so that it will be seen that the spring tends to hold the crank handle in either of the two positions indicated.

The forks 7 of the frame 6 are connected at one end by a head or cross bar 37 to which the handle 38 of the device is attached, said handle being of tapered form and having its longitudinal axis extending longitudinally of the axis of the frame. On the side of the forks 7 adjacent to the crank two stop pins 39 are provided between which the crank handle 34 folds so as to lock the crank to the frame when the device is not in use.

In using the device it will be evident that the crank handle 34 may be swung out to the position in which it is shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 3 so that its rotation will rotate the spool or drum 12 and wind up the tape. When the crank is winding up the tape in this manner the pin 22 will be in engagement with the hub 10. Vhen the tape is to be extended the block 27 should be slid toward the crank handle 34 and the button 28 rotated so as to lock the pin 22 withdrawn from the sockets 11. The taoe may then be pulled out without rotating the crank, and the hub 10 simply rotates by a swivel movement of the swivel head 18.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, in

combination, a frame, a spindle rotatably mounted therein, said spindle having a hub with a plurality of circumferentially disposed sockets therein, a crank having a head movably engaging saidhub, a pin guided longitudinally of said crank and adapted to engage said sockets, a spring pressing said pin toward said hub, a block sliding on said crank and connecting with said pin, and a rock membercarried by said block for engaging said crank to lock said pin in a withdrawn position.

2, A crank mechanism,comprising a shaft having peripheral recesses formed therein, a crank arm having a bearing upon said shaft and formed with an internal bore, a spring pressed pin mounted in said bore and adapted to engage the peripheral recess of said shaft, a latch carrying projection secured to said pin, and fitting upon the outer surface of said crank arm and a detent carried thereby adapted to engage the crank arm for holding the said spring actuated pin out of engagement with the said shaft when the shaft is to be freed from the said crank arm. j

8. Acrank mechanism for tape lines, comprising a shaft adapted to wind up a tape line, a handle carrying the same, a crank arm having a bearing loop formed in its end adapted to fit upon the end of said shaft, the said shaft having peripheral re.- cesses arranged to come within said loop, the crank arm having a central bore, a pin mounted in said bore, a spring normally tending to push the pin into engagement with said shaft, a slide mounted upon the outer surface of said crank arm, and having a rigid connection with the said pin, a rocking detent carried by said slide having a projection adapted to engage an opening formed in the said crank arm for holding the pin out of engagement with the shaft when the said shaft is to run free, and a handle adapted to turn the said crank arm.

4. A crank mechanism for tape lines comprising a shaft adapted to wind a tape, a frame holding the same, a crank arm movably mounted upon said shaft outside the frame, the said crank arm being hollow and having a spring pressed pin adapted to engage recesses formed in the said shaft, a slide mounted upon the outer surface of said crank arm and having a rigid connection With the pin within the same, a finger operated detent pivotally mounted on said slide'for holding the said pin in adjusted position, a pivoted handle carried by said crank arm, the said handle being adapted to be turned into engagement with detents upon the shaft supporting frame, and detents projecting from said frame so as to receive said handle, the handle being also adapted to be turned outwardly to afford cranking means for turning the crank arm.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 2nd day of November, 1910.

EDWIN H. MILLER.

EDMUND A. STRAUSE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

